UCC to give Barroso Honorary Doctorate

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, is to travel to University College Cork on Wednesday March 5th 2014, where he will be awarded an honorary doctorate and deliver a 25-minute address.

President Barroso will receive the Degree of Doctor of Laws before a large audience of invited guests from the world of education, business, politics, industry, government and the wider community. President Barroso has requested speaking time of up to 25 minutes, an indication that he has a specific message he wishes to convey to Ireland.

Commenting ahead of President Barroso’s visit, President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy said:

“In recognising President Barroso, we acknowledge the vision and commitment he has demonstrated at the helm of the European Commission since 2004. As his second term in office draws to a close, in his wake rests a legacy that fulfils his own motto – ‘educate, connect, inspire’ – admirably.”

President Murphy continued: “In honouring him, we also recognise the role that the European Union has played in the transformation of Irish universities, including UCC, over the past twenty years.”

The event will also be live streamed at http://www.ucc.ie/en/live/ from c. 6pm on March 5th.

A reception will follow the honorary conferring ceremony, during which President Barroso, a former Prime Minister of Portugal, will meet university academics, members of local, national and international government and the business community, amongst others.

This will be President Barroso’s second visit to UCC. In 2008, he delivered an address at UCC on the Lisbon Treaty.